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Wednesday December 26, 2012 5:21 AM

• The global battle to wipe out polio has come closer than ever to success, but
obstacles remain. The hurdles are not only the highly infectious nature of the disease but also
war, corruption, weak public-health systems and failing states. Last week added another obstacle to
that list: obscene acts of violence. In Pakistan, nine unarmed vaccination workers were killed by
gunfire while distributing medicine that could save the lives of countless children. Six of the
victims were female, including three teenagers.

The attacks were unprecedented. In their wake the United Nations suspended a vaccination drive
aimed at high-risk areas of the country and the young people who are most susceptible to the polio
virus, which affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis. The perpetrators are unknown,
and no one claimed responsibility, but they are believed to be the Pakistan Taliban. The Taliban
has denied it, but the Associated Press reported that suspicion has fallen on the terrorist
organization because of its past opposition to the campaign and because of claims by some
extremists that the vaccine could make children sterile — not true — or that the workers are spies
for the United States. This is not true either but may be lingering blowback from the CIA’s use of
a doctor in Pakistan and a fake vaccination campaign in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Huge strides have been made toward eradicating polio since the effort was launched in 1988.
Then, the disease was endemic in 125 countries; today, only in three: Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Nigeria. Last year, there were 650 cases globally; this year, as of last week, 214. In the 1980s
the disease annually killed or paralyzed more than 350,000 children. The member states of the World
Health Organization declared a “programmatic emergency” in May to galvanize efforts toward a final
eradication, an exceedingly difficult task that has been achieved with only one other disease,
smallpox.

Pakistan’s progress is notable but fragile. This year there have been only 56 polio cases in the
country, less than a third of the 175 last year. Yet the virus can spread rapidly and unexpectedly,
especially where hygiene and sanitation are poor. This is why vaccination is so important; if
enough children are immunized, the virus can’t find susceptible children to infect and dies
out.

The government of Pakistan has rightly condemned the shootings, as have the United Nations and
the WHO. The gunmen cannot be allowed to shut down a vital public-health campaign. Perhaps the
workers will need to be better protected, but the vaccination effort must go on.